Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 288

"Impossible!" Brian shot back without a moment's hesitation. "Mom, you watched Vanessa grow up-you know how kind she is. There's no way she could have pushed Irene down the stairs. There has to be some misunderstanding here. Honestly, I think Irene probably just lost her balance and-"

"Brian!"

Before he could finish, Irene's voice cut through the room, sharp and icy.

Her eyes, glinting with a cold, hard light, landed on Brian-not with the affection of

a sibling, but with the hatred reserved for a mortal enemy.

She couldn't believe it. Even now, after everything, Brian was still defending Vanessa, still trying to wipe her slate clean.

It was Brian who once claimed to care for Claire, and Brian who hurt her most deeply.

Years ago, it was Brian who insisted on breaking off his engagement with Vanessa. Now, with the truth laid bare, he was still fighting tooth and nail to protect Vanessa's reputation.

Suddenly, Irene felt a wave of revulsion toward her brother.

was doing hurt her even more than anything Vanessa

shouted, her voice trembling with anger and pain. "Five years ago, it was Vanessa who pushed me down those stairs.

wasn't me-it really wasn't!" Vanessa shook her head desperately, tears brimming in her eyes. The angry red slap mark on her cheek only made

please, you have to believe me," she pleaded,

to see Vanessa cry. Shooting Irene a fierce glare, he snapped, "Irene, you can't just

If she could stand,

eyes burning with resentment. "You want to know

or died; as long as they got her into the hospital, they planned to declare

kill me. They

tumbled

rage by the end, her face

if he'd been struck by

he'd ever imagined, it shattered everything

twenty-some years, he'd

head, his face

Even if

never go along with something